During my sixth visit to Italy I became to realise why I love it so much.

It has many things in common with South East Asia.

Now hear me out if you are not yet a believer. I can actually pin point the exact moment when Newton like the apple struck my head.

I was outside an oddly named hotel watching over our incredibly large baggage vanguard and my wife was inside bartering for two nights accommodation, There was an interesting market just across the road and it was teaming with scooters.

Sound just like South East Asia?

Italians are fabulously welcoming hosts. The language barrier exists but you can conduct most transactions with,

Ciao (Hi) and Grazie (Thank you)

An added bonus for a weary traveler is that Ciao doubles as good bye or you can just toss it in anywhere when you are lost for words. Kind of like ummmm.

The alcoholic beverages seem to use a curiously strong 50/50 spirit mixer recipe.

Our hotel has a combo shower/toilet/wash basin/mirror/bidet

Just like South East Asia.

Same same but different.

Trip news.

We are in Livorno for two days before we catch the train down to Naples for some work. Livorno is a spacious port town (surprise) We went and said hello to the boats we are working on next week last night. Both of them are for sale sadly. (CLICK THE GOOGLE ADS! CLICK THE GOOGLE ADS!)

The Yacht I worked on before the Monaco Grand Prix was there as well. They were pushing off for Naples and they seconded me into helping them cast off. We then sat down to dinner(on some yachts tab) and watched Annaeva slip out to the open sea.

Horribly stunning times in Italy 🙂